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OGDEN, Utah – Candadai Seshachari will receive the 2002 H. Aldous Dixon Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Weber State University.

For over 30 years, Seshachari has distinguished himself as an educator, scholar, leader and philanthropist.

A native of India, Seshachari, who retired last year, joined WSU as a professor of English in 1969. He has received numerous awards honoring his work as an educator. Students loved him as a teacher and admired his knowledge and understanding of the subjects he taught. Two students, who met in his class and later married, even named a child after him.

He is the author of several books and articles, many focusing on the life and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. His scholarship is also demonstrated in the wide variety of topics he has presented at regional and national conferences. They range from Shakespeare to Thoreau to Martin Luther King, Jr., to discussions on nonviolence, ecology, political issues and religion.

Seshachari distinguished himself as a leader on campus. As director of General Education from 1974-1982, he was instrumental in the creation of the Bachelor of Integrated Studies degree. He served as chairman of the English department from 1984-1992 and again from 1995-2001. Four times he was elected chairman of the Faculty Senate, a testament to his colleagues’ respect.

Seshachari’s contributions extend beyond WSU. He has served on boards of the Utah Humanities Council and the Eccles Art Center. In addition, he has served on the boards of Your Community Connection of Northern Utah, Utah Musical Theater and the Egyptian Theater Foundation. He is 2002-2003 president-elect of the Ogden Symphony Ballet Association.

In nominating Seshachari for this award, former WSU professor Thomas Burton wrote, “He has a way of extracting the best from people with whom he is involved and making them feel that they are important and respected.”

A luncheon will be held in Seshachari’s honor on Friday, March 8, at noon in the Shepherd Union Ballroom.

Since 1970, the Dixon Award has been presented annually to a member of the WSU faculty or staff who has sought to meet the needs of students and has achieved a meaningful measure of excellence in his or her career. H. Aldous Dixon served as president of Weber College from 1919 to 1920, and again from 1937 to 1953.